[21
AUG 00] WARWICK
DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS
Church Site Answers Leamington Market's Prayers
Leamington’s troubled
market has probably been saved after a change of location. Traders had
to be turned away from the new site which saw a full house for the
first time in years on Friday.
No longer hidden in
car parks, the weekly sale of goods is now held outside All Saints
Church, just the other side of the Victoria Bridge.
The historic bridge -
linking the two Leamington shopping areas - is set to reopen to
traffic in a few weeks after months of work which should further boost
trade.
The market was in
line for the chop after it had slumped to just two stalls, and the
council leader said this move was probably its last chance.
Paul Skett, of E G
Skett, who manage the markets on behalf of Warwick District Council
said today:
“We had
torrential rain on the day, but it went very well indeed. There was
a tremendous amount of interest.
“The new site is
more visual and is a good link between Old Town and North Town.
“We are delighted
with the result and hope people keep coming back.”
He said the 18 stalls
were full and some traders could not get a place – a far cry from
the recent market of just two stalls at the old Packington Place site.
The extra
stallholders are mostly the traders who deserted the market in recent
months and years, as interest waned with the isolated location.
The new site, in
front of the parish church and just over the Victoria Bridge from the
Pump rooms, was thought to be the ailing market’s last chance. The
district council was keen to keep the weekly event in Old Town, but
struggled to find a good site.
Simon Brown,
Associate Minister of All Saints Church said:
"We see the
market operating from in front of the church as helping to bring the
community together.
“We have involved
the church council members with the operator and Regenesis to make
this happen. It is very exciting.”
Cllr Joe Short,
chairman of Warwick District Council, who met with traders at the new
site said:
"The new
location is much more user friendly for customers and traders alike.
This will help boost trade in the Old Town."
Leamington mayor,
Cllr Bill Evans, was convinced this site would be the answer. He said:
"This is a
great news for Old Town. Some of us have been working very hard to
keep a worthwhile market in old Town.
“When I saw the
success of the earlier experiment in Priory Terrace I was convinced
this would be the answer.
“I am grateful to
the church authorities for allowing us to use this great site, so
that the market can become an integral part of the Old Town Square.
I will certainly be a regular user of the market in its new
location."
Paul Yardley,
chairman of the Old Town Traders Association said:
"We are
pleased that the traditional market has been saved in Old Town. The
new site is far superior to the old site and businesses particularly
around Victoria Terrace will benefit.
“This together
with the imminent reopening of the bridge is good news for Old
Town.”
The church forecourt
space will now allow 18 stalls market to operate each Friday between
9am and 4pm.
SEE:
20
Jul 00
Last Chance for Leamington's Ailing Market
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